National Republican., 1887-04-23
REALITIES OF ROME.
The Many Attractions Hold Travellers
within Her walls,

3 PIAZZA Dt SPAGNA, ROME, ITALY,
FEB. 81, lSS7.--MY DEAR Mis-. H.; We
came to Rome ia the autumn. expecting TO
remain two months, but four months nave
gone hy and here we still linger. There Is
n peculiar fascination about the Eternal
City that speedily takes possession OF one
and holds him enthralled within her walls
month after month. The mother oil US ALL
IN youth we drank from her fountains Oh
literature. because familiar with her heroes
and household gods, aud wandered
through her palaces and prisons. Within
her gates the voyager feels more at home
than In any other foreign city.
We have carried with us in all our Jour.
neying MIR. KS "Sketches OF Travel which
he so Kindly gave us just as we were leaVhg |
home, and for which We wish TO thank you |
both nfresh, as II has given us the pleasure |
OF your companionship, and added charm |
to common scenes visited.
some yery interesting excavations have |
been made In the forum since you were
here.
The road which crossed 1t just In front
of the arch Of Septimius Severus was re
moved In 1883 or 1854, some distance back
towards the Captoline hill, as shown In the
large, ireshly-made photograph we send
YOU with this
The removal Of this road uncovered the
site of the rostra OF Julius Cesar, the scene
of some of the most important political
the form of this structure, point long III
dispute among archaeologists.
The term rostra, you will remember, was
frst applied TO the platform In the CONT
tium, from which the orators spoke after
tie capture OF the Latin fleet at Antium,
where, In honor Of this victory, the bronze
beaks or rostra OF the captured ships were
fastened to the previously existing struc-
ture In "A b. C., Julius Cesar removed
the rostra to another site in The forum You
will fnd the ruins OF this last rostra In the
photograph close by the arch OF Septimins
Severus and just back Of the column OF Pho
cas- 1t was a rectangular platform, seventy.
eight feet in length and eleven In height.
The whole outside of 1t was covered with
marble IL was surmounted with rich
balustrade, with an open space In front,
where the speaker stood. Thus the entire
figure of the orator could he seen
by the auditors In the forum. Jhe piat.
form was further ornamented by statues OF
Lula, Pompey, j illus Caesar, aud others.
some holes and metal Plus in the existing
ruins lead archaeologists to conclude that
the rostra or beaks OF ships were attached
to this platform In the alternate rows,
twenty In the upper and nineteen In the
lower tier. Those In front are said 10 nave
been those taken at Antuin, ana removed
by Julius Caesar to this new site.
1t was here that Anthony showed the
bleeding body of Caesar to the thro e In the
forum. Here, too, the murdered Cicero's
head aud hands were fixed.
One Of the most interesting excavations
made since you were here is that OF tht
house of the vestal virgins. This Is one OF
the most complete specimens OF ancient
domestic architecture yet discovered, anc
IL has revived interest In the history OF thu
yestal virgins and the goddess they served
vesta, the goddess Of the home and hearth
was much revered by the old Romans
Their legends show that her worship wa
OF very ancient origin. One OF her vestals
Rhea Sylvia, becomes. through her famou
twins, the mother OF Rome. But 1t was lef
TO Nuna, say the legends, to transfer he
sacred fire, together with four vestal virgins
from Alba Longa to Rome, which ever afte
remained the center Of her worship. lie
priestesses--the number being increased T.
six by one of the later kings-were alway
selected with great care from good families
The sister of Cicero's wife was a vestal,
fortunate circumstance which allowed he
TO find refuge In the house of the vestal
when Cicero was banished from Rome
These virgins must be without physica
blemish, and were selected Tor the pfles'
hood between the ages OF d and 10 years
They took VOWS for thirty years, the firs
ten of which were spent In learning thei
duties, ten In practicing them, teh more 1
giving instruction to others. AT the ex
piration of this time they were at liberty I
return to the world and marry, which the
seem seldom to have done, preferring
die In the service. Excepting their en-
forced celibacy and the awfu! consequence
of a breach Of their VOWS of chastity, the
seem to have been the most favored wome
of their time. They lived In style OF gres
magnifcence, being supported at publ
expense. They welded much political IL
duence, and had not a little patronage
connection with their sacred offices at the
disposal. They had the right to make will
and their testimony was received In coui
without the formGlity Of an oath. The
had but to say that criminal was met al
cidentally TO ask and secure his pa
don. Consuls and praetors made wa
for them and lowered their face
They were assigned places OF hon'
at the public games and show
To them was accorded the honor OF buri
within the city walls But alas for tho
who violated their VOWS OF chastity
be publicly stoned to death was, accordiI
to the law Of Numa, deemed fitting puI
ishment for such a crime. From the tiu
OF Tarquinius Prscus the more horrib
penalty of burial alive was resorted I
Pliny gives a most pathetic account OF
vestal who was so treated by order
Domtian on bare suspicion and without
fair trial. Her supposed lover was public
scourged to death.
The temple OF Vesta was the most sacr'
Of all the shrines at Rome. 1t stood ju
outside the forum. Its site Is well shov
on the photograph by the circular podiu
or base near the three well-known colum
Of Castor and Pollux. The original temp
built by Numa was destroyed by the Gau
Rebuilt on the same site, 1t was burned
the great fire in Nero's reign, and again
the time of Commodus after which 1t "
rebuilt by Severus To this period the G
isting marble fragments belong. The co
crete podium and the foundations OF !
steps are Of much earlier date. The bull
ing bore Ii close resemblance to the temp
In the Forum BOarum, now In perft
state OF preservation, which was former
mistaken for the temple OF Nesta.
statue OF the goddess was kept IN her tel
pie, she being represented by the saer
lire kept burning day and night. !
house Of the vestal virgins adioined a
communicated with the temple hence
usually shared the fate OF the latter, bel
several times destroyed and rebuilt. Not
ing now existing IN this house appears
be earlier than the time of liadrian. I
house stood against The side Of the Palati
hill, 80 that the upper floor is about ley
with the Nova Via, which runs along
edge Of this cliff. The chief entrance "
ut the northeast corner, near the temple
Vesta. This entrance opens into
colonnade, or to speak classically,
peristyle, surrounding large quadrang
open court or atrium, well shown at |
right IN the foreground of the photograI
The columns surrounding the atriu
were of navy green and white marble, W
white marble caps and bass, the massi
foundations Of which are still TO be set
The peristye was lined with beauti
marble and paved with mosaics In the cen
Of the open court are remains of n curio
brick structure, circle within an octagC
suggestive of Hover bed and supposed
have been II miniature garden. Alitte
tance from this is large marble lined Ia
for the water used by the vestals. At
south end Of the atrium, opposite the
,ean,a 10 tho tuh1Innu nr salnnn wh